Perkins 6 cylinder into XT
- Paul Scherek
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Has anyone fitted a 6 cylinder Perkins into an XT? If so, how did you get on with the cooling system? In a recent topic (radiator cleaning) it was pointed out that the XT didn't cool as well as the LT, and the Perkins 6 apparently is too much for the standard LT radiator so cooling could be even worse with the XT.
I am thinking of adding a second radiator where the bash plate protecting the steering track rod normally goes. There is space for a radiator about 700mm x 300mm, and it would rely on two 12" electric fans. These apparently are not as effective as an engine driven fan.
If anyone has any experience of the Perky 6 in an XT I would be really interested to learn of your results.
Cheers,
Paul
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- Tony Lee
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Tony
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- Peter and Sandra OKA 374
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OKA 374 LT Van, converted to camper/motorhome,
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- Paul Scherek
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Tony Lee wrote: Paul changes the XT radiator when swapping to a Perkins. Gets a much thicker core with more cooling capacity
Hi Tony, Paul does that for the Cummins conversion. He thinks that the Perkins 6 engines need more water cooling than the Cummins, and the problem is compounded because the Perkins 6 engine is too close to the standard XT radiator.
How is life up there in Iceland? Trip going well? Very envious.......
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- Outback Jack
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Having said all that Paul can help with a radiator and PWR if you are into aluminum
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- Ralley
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Rob
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- Paul Scherek
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Peter and Sandra OKA 374 wrote: Paul when fitting the cummins 6bt to an Oka both XT and LT require radiator upgrades. Rob Alley will probably chime in, he and I had Taree radiators recore our radiator to a four core in my LT and I think Rob went to a 5 core in the XT. If it wasn't a 5 it would have been a 4 core. The standard LT is only a 2 core so the new four core doubles the capacity.My LT with the 6bt now has a coolant capacity of around 25 litres.
Thanks Peter, the problem is two-fold with the Perkins into the XT - first, the Perkins apparently needs a lot more cooling than the Cummins and secondly, the Perkins fan sits further forward so that the radiator needs to move forward on the XT and its size is further reduced. Even with 5 cores it could still be dodgy - that is why I was wondering if anyone had come up with a solution.
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- Paul Scherek
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OBJ, I would worry about an aluminium radiator failing due to fatigue given the sort of shaking around an Oka gets.
Rob, I am disappointed at what your radiator bloke said about double radiators - that was really my only option for added cooling. Still, good to know before I waste a lot of time and money.
Anyone got a magic wand I can borrow?
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- Outback Jack
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I am with a similar opinion. However there are several OKA`s getting around with a PWR radiator. PWR sell radiators for off road racing vehicles. So I am thinking they cant be that bad.
The cost for one of their radiators is similar in price to upgrading your current radiator. About 1200 to 1500 dollars. If it can cool a 6 litre Cummins or Duramax, then it should do same for Perkins.
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- Ralley
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Rob
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- Paul Scherek
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Rob, I can't move the engine back easily. To fit the Perkins I had to make up a cable gear change and the gearbox end sits on top of the gearbox - about 12mm from the rear cross-member. The oil cooler is a great idea - I will investigate that one, and I will look for more opinions on double radiators.Ralley wrote: I wouldn't give up. I would still look into the second radiator. Also you could get rid of the aircon out of the tunnel that will reduce the heat. Is there any way you can mount the engine further back to give you more clearance and leave the radiator where it is? Could you mount an external oil cooler to take out some more heat? I was once told Impossibilities just take a bit longer.
Rob
Cheers, Paul
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- Outback Jack
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I would chat to PWR. I am sure they would be able to sort it out for you. I wouldn't be too worried about using aluminum.
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- OKA 138
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If possible improve the airflow through the radiator with a bigger fan and shroud the drawback in my case was a lot more fan noise.
A second radiator with its own fan would be the way to go if you don't have the room for a bigger fan. Any other cooler system i.e. oil will help.
Another option is as the Ford Truck division did with LNT9000 series fit a cross flow radiator ,they used similar hp engines to Kenworth and Mack with a smaller radiator with no overheating problems.The cross flow appears to be a more efficient system but I have no experience of that.
Cheers Dave
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- mort
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Martyn
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- outyonda
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Tap the Perkins with the magic wand & it may turn into a Cummins.
There is a 6cyl OKA at Bakers Hìll, has cracked the sump on biff ?
Darren lilly has done a couple of them.
A Perkins is a draft horse, reliable but slow & heavy.
A Cummins is like a thourbred, reliable & gets thejob done.
4,6,8cyl perkins leak oil, & turtle up hills?
As Dave said, air flow ,
#346 has 4 core, large cores & more air flow for Cummins
Water capasity,
The old trucks had an extra tank connected,
Drag cars have tank for capacity
OKAs 091, 093, 094, 113, 346x6 & 405
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- Paul Scherek
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OBJ, I don't want to modify the air-con again - it works great as it is after the last mod.
Dave, that is interesting about the cross-flow being more effective. The second radiator would be cross-flow anyway, and I could easily make the main radiator cross-flow also. I do have a large fan available, which would certainly give better 'suck'. The shroud would be interesting.....
Mort, yes please, I would like to see that topic re-visited.
Outyonda, I was lucky (I think) to buy a brand new old stock Perkins 160 in a crate, left over from a bus company's spares. I like the Perkins engines - not as powerful as some, but very quiet and refined in operation. I gave up the need for speed when I gave up motorbikes.
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- mort
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If you move up to the front like the LT with some mods to the grill.
Martyn
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- Peter and Sandra OKA 374
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OKA 374 LT Van, converted to camper/motorhome,
400ah Lithiums, 1100w solar, diesel cooking heating and HWS,
Cummins 6BT, Allison 6 speed auto, Nissan transfer.
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- Peter334
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- Harry
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Oka 045 the WIDE Motorhome 6bt cummins 500 watt solar diesel heating gas cooking up grade LSD front and rear diffs to 4:56 from 4:88 . 320 lt fuel 153 lt fresh water in 3 separate tanks 3 house batteries 1 start battery 176 lt upright fridge/freezer Black dog security
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